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Book Review: Rip It Up and Start Again: Post-Punk 1978-1984 by Simon Reynolds

Here's another book review for you,.. Rip It Up And Start Again: Post-Punk 1978-1984 by Simon Reynolds is the latest text I'm devouring, and so far, so good. I like that the chapters are segmented into groups of bands, sometimes by year, and sometimes location. Simon has definitely done his homework, but it helps to have been there, in the UK. where most of the Post-Punk scene developed. It also helps to be old enough to understand the movement, yet young enough to dig it.

Chapter 16 particularly intrigued me; Sex Gang Children: Malcolm McLaren, the Pied Piper of Pantomime Pop. His recount of Malcolm's devious dealings differs greatly from, say Adam Ant's version in his autobiography: Stand and Deliver. I had always thought that Adam was being rather gracious regarding his version of how the original Ants left and went to form Bow Wow Wow under Malcolm's tutelage. I suppose we'll never really know now...

This particular edition came from the UK, because a little research birdie told me that the US version is missing over 200 pages of info. I'll never understand why publishers do this, but whatever. I ordered my copy from Amazon UK, and it was really reasonable. There is a companion book to this called Totally Wired: Postpunk Interviews and Overviews which I will no doubt invest in soon.

If you're a Post-Punk junkie like me, you'll love the in-depth info Simon provides on the actual bands themselves, and the records they put out in the day. There's a great index in the back, as well as a thorough timeline on the Post-Punk history, for quickie reference.